Just like some other big name guy who shed blood for his followers, I shed blood for the readers of Modblog. People are complaining that Modblog isn’t updating and I wanted to help, but without new submissions to BME there is little for me to choose from. So instead of complaining or making excuses, I took action and used this lull in post as the encouragement I needed to get those godforsaken transdermals removed from my noggin.
First and foremost, I want to be clear I knew the risk going into the initial procedure and I realized the super low success rate of transdermals. Hell, I think the BME Encyclopedia entry on transdermal removal summed it up best.
All in all, because of the low success rate and complications, transdermal implants are one of the few procedures that BME recommends against — although we fully support people’s right to get them, if and only if they fully understand and accept the risks.It should also be noted that a variety of professionals are trying to solve the problems with transdermal implants.
I got my implants done by a highly reputable practitioner, whom I also consider a friend. As far as procedures go, it was as spot on as one could hope for. In fact, long time modbloggers may even remember this post Shannon made of them when they were brand new.
As is the case with most transdermals, they never actually healed. The wounds around the transdermal post oozed, well, pretty much constantly. The channels the implants were inserted in stayed seperated from the underlying tissue and bubbled up. Hair growth was nullified in a large circle around each of the implants……….and this is just what I dealt with in the first year.
I tried lots of remedies, some holistic, some horrific. I used everything from chamomile tea bag soaks to injecting alcohol around the transdermal stems to dry out the excess lymph. Nothing had any lasting affects. As the years went on the implants just got worse, most started migrating and the first one (as you can see in the before picture) rejected to the point of one foot coming completely through the skin.
While there has been no definitive study on the long term success rates of transdermal implants, 20% or less seems to be pretty accurate. I’d even go so far to assume that most of those will not last indefinitely and that a lot of the “successful” ones aren’t actually fully and properly healed.
I (speaking purely as myself, and not for BMEzine.com) feel that the transdermal implants, as we know them, have no place in modern body modification. The original design by Steve Haworth, was ground breaking and without that original design we may not have the microdermal anchor design that we have now. However, with the gray area legality of the implantation procedure and the unlikeliness of them properly healing, I just don’t see why they are still being commonly offered. Don’t get me wrong, if a practitioner wants to do some on a highly modded well informed client, I am not opposed, I just don’t see the point. However, the fact some practitioners will do these on any walk in client is an atrocity and a total F-You to our entire community.
One thing that I feel will certainly make transdermal implants obsolete is large gauge microdermals, such as those offered by Anatometal. With them offering micros up to an 8 gauge, that can be inserted with piercing techniques (no invasive surgery) and also removed far easier that transdermals, I just can’t see the need for an invasive and potentially illegal surgical procedure with a low success rate.
Anyhow, that’s my take on the subject, feel free to chime in your opinions on this topic in the comments. For a whole lot of photos from my transdermal removal procedure, keep on keeping on.
All photos, thanks to Robin Scott.
Have your own transdermal failure stories/pictures that you want to share? Email them to [email protected]
Comments
420 responses to “Why transdermals suck, by yours truly”
It sounded like someone cutting into cardboard with a scalpel.
It was…..interesting.
It sounded like someone cutting into cardboard with a scalpel.
It was…..interesting.
comment #1 = win
& thank you for sharing your story and the pictures. I quite like the way the tattoos on your skull look.
comment #1 = win
& thank you for sharing your story and the pictures. I quite like the way the tattoos on your skull look.
comment #1 = win
& thank you for sharing your story and the pictures. I quite like the way the tattoos on your skull look.
comment #1 = win
& thank you for sharing your story and the pictures. I quite like the way the tattoos on your skull look.
second to last photo looks pretty rowdy. my god.
second to last photo looks pretty rowdy. my god.
second to last photo looks pretty rowdy. my god.
second to last photo looks pretty rowdy. my god.
What a biased post.
I had two 4g transdermals for about five years that healed, and sat there without bitching for a looooong time. I was NOT gentle with them either.
To say that “transdermals suck” based on such limited experience is wrong.
I’m saying this from the position of someone who has no emotional ties to the person who performed my implant procedure.
What a biased post.
I had two 4g transdermals for about five years that healed, and sat there without bitching for a looooong time. I was NOT gentle with them either.
To say that “transdermals suck” based on such limited experience is wrong.
I’m saying this from the position of someone who has no emotional ties to the person who performed my implant procedure.
What a biased post.
I had two 4g transdermals for about five years that healed, and sat there without bitching for a looooong time. I was NOT gentle with them either.
To say that “transdermals suck” based on such limited experience is wrong.
I’m saying this from the position of someone who has no emotional ties to the person who performed my implant procedure.
What a biased post.
I had two 4g transdermals for about five years that healed, and sat there without bitching for a looooong time. I was NOT gentle with them either.
To say that “transdermals suck” based on such limited experience is wrong.
I’m saying this from the position of someone who has no emotional ties to the person who performed my implant procedure.
awesome post. thanks.
awesome post. thanks.
awesome post. thanks.
awesome post. thanks.
Pre-op head sores! iicckkkkyyyy! xP
my 10g anchor by anatometal is amazing and wonderful.
&cutthroat, I think if I had six oozy, bubbly, altogether aesthetically unpleasant head holes, that would be enough for me to say “transdermals suck” as well. Just sayin’.
Pre-op head sores! iicckkkkyyyy! xP
my 10g anchor by anatometal is amazing and wonderful.
&cutthroat, I think if I had six oozy, bubbly, altogether aesthetically unpleasant head holes, that would be enough for me to say “transdermals suck” as well. Just sayin’.
Pre-op head sores! iicckkkkyyyy! xP
my 10g anchor by anatometal is amazing and wonderful.
&cutthroat, I think if I had six oozy, bubbly, altogether aesthetically unpleasant head holes, that would be enough for me to say “transdermals suck” as well. Just sayin’.
Pre-op head sores! iicckkkkyyyy! xP
my 10g anchor by anatometal is amazing and wonderful.
&cutthroat, I think if I had six oozy, bubbly, altogether aesthetically unpleasant head holes, that would be enough for me to say “transdermals suck” as well. Just sayin’.
So bme isn’t being updated because there aren’t any submissions?
So bme isn’t being updated because there aren’t any submissions?
So bme isn’t being updated because there aren’t any submissions?
So bme isn’t being updated because there aren’t any submissions?
fuh,i wonder how that felt.
i just wanna put my finger in there and feel it.
and id like to see a picture of it after its healed
fuh,i wonder how that felt.
i just wanna put my finger in there and feel it.
and id like to see a picture of it after its healed
fuh,i wonder how that felt.
i just wanna put my finger in there and feel it.
and id like to see a picture of it after its healed
fuh,i wonder how that felt.
i just wanna put my finger in there and feel it.
and id like to see a picture of it after its healed
It took you four years to get them taken out, despite the fact that they “oozed constantly” and the skin bubbled up??
It took you four years to get them taken out, despite the fact that they “oozed constantly” and the skin bubbled up??
It took you four years to get them taken out, despite the fact that they “oozed constantly” and the skin bubbled up??
It took you four years to get them taken out, despite the fact that they “oozed constantly” and the skin bubbled up??
are you ever going to be able to grow hair over it? looks like horrible scar tissue
are you ever going to be able to grow hair over it? looks like horrible scar tissue
are you ever going to be able to grow hair over it? looks like horrible scar tissue
are you ever going to be able to grow hair over it? looks like horrible scar tissue
..Wait, this wasn’t posted April 1? I’m.. I’m confused. I understand opinion and representation and the like but what I’m seeing is language I’m not used to here (oh don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with it, but I’m used to far less biased and more.. professional..?) and.. head vagoo gorefest. I don’t know, why didn’t my post about how much I *love* mine, how well they’ve behaved, how thrilled I am to wake up and see them- why didn’t that make it? I felt like I had the shit beaten out of me for a day. Sometimes they bug me. But they’re so worth it.
I agree with you, they shouldn’t just be offered to any jackoff that walks in and asks nicely- big procedure, requires thinking, informed consent. Bigger choices are made with less thought every single day. I just.. don’t see what the difference is between this post and the post about the young eunuch a few below, besides the tone of the entire fucking thing. You make a choice and it may be a gray area and quite risky but you accept it because it’s what you really want and you follow through.
I can’t remember the last time I saw a post this negative on ModBlog. The last that even came close that I caught had to do with safety and suspension. Nowhere even close to this.
..Come on. Say April Fools already.
..Wait, this wasn’t posted April 1? I’m.. I’m confused. I understand opinion and representation and the like but what I’m seeing is language I’m not used to here (oh don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with it, but I’m used to far less biased and more.. professional..?) and.. head vagoo gorefest. I don’t know, why didn’t my post about how much I *love* mine, how well they’ve behaved, how thrilled I am to wake up and see them- why didn’t that make it? I felt like I had the shit beaten out of me for a day. Sometimes they bug me. But they’re so worth it.
I agree with you, they shouldn’t just be offered to any jackoff that walks in and asks nicely- big procedure, requires thinking, informed consent. Bigger choices are made with less thought every single day. I just.. don’t see what the difference is between this post and the post about the young eunuch a few below, besides the tone of the entire fucking thing. You make a choice and it may be a gray area and quite risky but you accept it because it’s what you really want and you follow through.
I can’t remember the last time I saw a post this negative on ModBlog. The last that even came close that I caught had to do with safety and suspension. Nowhere even close to this.
..Come on. Say April Fools already.
..Wait, this wasn’t posted April 1? I’m.. I’m confused. I understand opinion and representation and the like but what I’m seeing is language I’m not used to here (oh don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with it, but I’m used to far less biased and more.. professional..?) and.. head vagoo gorefest. I don’t know, why didn’t my post about how much I *love* mine, how well they’ve behaved, how thrilled I am to wake up and see them- why didn’t that make it? I felt like I had the shit beaten out of me for a day. Sometimes they bug me. But they’re so worth it.
I agree with you, they shouldn’t just be offered to any jackoff that walks in and asks nicely- big procedure, requires thinking, informed consent. Bigger choices are made with less thought every single day. I just.. don’t see what the difference is between this post and the post about the young eunuch a few below, besides the tone of the entire fucking thing. You make a choice and it may be a gray area and quite risky but you accept it because it’s what you really want and you follow through.
I can’t remember the last time I saw a post this negative on ModBlog. The last that even came close that I caught had to do with safety and suspension. Nowhere even close to this.
..Come on. Say April Fools already.
..Wait, this wasn’t posted April 1? I’m.. I’m confused. I understand opinion and representation and the like but what I’m seeing is language I’m not used to here (oh don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with it, but I’m used to far less biased and more.. professional..?) and.. head vagoo gorefest. I don’t know, why didn’t my post about how much I *love* mine, how well they’ve behaved, how thrilled I am to wake up and see them- why didn’t that make it? I felt like I had the shit beaten out of me for a day. Sometimes they bug me. But they’re so worth it.
I agree with you, they shouldn’t just be offered to any jackoff that walks in and asks nicely- big procedure, requires thinking, informed consent. Bigger choices are made with less thought every single day. I just.. don’t see what the difference is between this post and the post about the young eunuch a few below, besides the tone of the entire fucking thing. You make a choice and it may be a gray area and quite risky but you accept it because it’s what you really want and you follow through.
I can’t remember the last time I saw a post this negative on ModBlog. The last that even came close that I caught had to do with safety and suspension. Nowhere even close to this.
..Come on. Say April Fools already.
I have had my transdermals for almost 5 years now….also no emotional ties to the person who did them. Mine do have their bad days where it may bubble up SLIGHTLY & will ooze a little then have a little bleed….but that will be one day, The next day they are perfectly fine. This happens maybe once every few weeks, can sometimes be months between flare ups….but i have put this down to my hair being dirty (i have to wear a bit of hair over them for work) & the fact that I am, and have always been, a picker. If there is a bit of a scab over it I will pick it. I can’t help it, i have OCD with things being tidy & when there is crust, it feels untidy to me. I totally know I shouldn’t pick, but I just can’t help it, and I know a lot of people who do this! But through all of that, they are still firmly in place, there has been no infections, no rejections, no problems at all really. They are 3 leaf clover base design made of titanium. The tissue healed back together very quickly & stayed together. I realise I have been very lucky & that they are not 100% healed, but I don’t see me taking them out any time soon, not unless something goes drastically wrong.
It’s a shame yours didn’t heal much Sean, they looked pretty rad!
🙂
I have had my transdermals for almost 5 years now….also no emotional ties to the person who did them. Mine do have their bad days where it may bubble up SLIGHTLY & will ooze a little then have a little bleed….but that will be one day, The next day they are perfectly fine. This happens maybe once every few weeks, can sometimes be months between flare ups….but i have put this down to my hair being dirty (i have to wear a bit of hair over them for work) & the fact that I am, and have always been, a picker. If there is a bit of a scab over it I will pick it. I can’t help it, i have OCD with things being tidy & when there is crust, it feels untidy to me. I totally know I shouldn’t pick, but I just can’t help it, and I know a lot of people who do this! But through all of that, they are still firmly in place, there has been no infections, no rejections, no problems at all really. They are 3 leaf clover base design made of titanium. The tissue healed back together very quickly & stayed together. I realise I have been very lucky & that they are not 100% healed, but I don’t see me taking them out any time soon, not unless something goes drastically wrong.
It’s a shame yours didn’t heal much Sean, they looked pretty rad!
🙂
I have had my transdermals for almost 5 years now….also no emotional ties to the person who did them. Mine do have their bad days where it may bubble up SLIGHTLY & will ooze a little then have a little bleed….but that will be one day, The next day they are perfectly fine. This happens maybe once every few weeks, can sometimes be months between flare ups….but i have put this down to my hair being dirty (i have to wear a bit of hair over them for work) & the fact that I am, and have always been, a picker. If there is a bit of a scab over it I will pick it. I can’t help it, i have OCD with things being tidy & when there is crust, it feels untidy to me. I totally know I shouldn’t pick, but I just can’t help it, and I know a lot of people who do this! But through all of that, they are still firmly in place, there has been no infections, no rejections, no problems at all really. They are 3 leaf clover base design made of titanium. The tissue healed back together very quickly & stayed together. I realise I have been very lucky & that they are not 100% healed, but I don’t see me taking them out any time soon, not unless something goes drastically wrong.
It’s a shame yours didn’t heal much Sean, they looked pretty rad!
🙂
I have had my transdermals for almost 5 years now….also no emotional ties to the person who did them. Mine do have their bad days where it may bubble up SLIGHTLY & will ooze a little then have a little bleed….but that will be one day, The next day they are perfectly fine. This happens maybe once every few weeks, can sometimes be months between flare ups….but i have put this down to my hair being dirty (i have to wear a bit of hair over them for work) & the fact that I am, and have always been, a picker. If there is a bit of a scab over it I will pick it. I can’t help it, i have OCD with things being tidy & when there is crust, it feels untidy to me. I totally know I shouldn’t pick, but I just can’t help it, and I know a lot of people who do this! But through all of that, they are still firmly in place, there has been no infections, no rejections, no problems at all really. They are 3 leaf clover base design made of titanium. The tissue healed back together very quickly & stayed together. I realise I have been very lucky & that they are not 100% healed, but I don’t see me taking them out any time soon, not unless something goes drastically wrong.
It’s a shame yours didn’t heal much Sean, they looked pretty rad!
🙂
#6
Im fairly sure its a safe bet to say that it did hurt.
#6
Im fairly sure its a safe bet to say that it did hurt.
#6
Im fairly sure its a safe bet to say that it did hurt.
#6
Im fairly sure its a safe bet to say that it did hurt.